Coin-controlled mechanism for vending machines



Aug. 19, 1930. A. D. ANTOINE 1,773,701

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Oct. 28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1930- A. D. ANTOINE I 1,773,701

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR' VENDING. MACHINES Filed Oct. 28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 operation of the mechanism. g p t Figure 4 s a view similar to F lgure 3, show- Patented Aug. 19, 1930 ALFRED D. ANTOINE, OF CHICAGQILLINOIS, ASSIGIZ'ORTO ADVANCE MACHINE COMI- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Application .filed October 28, 1929. Serial No. 402,827.

Thisinvention relates to improvements in coin controlled mechanism particularly adapted, though not'necessari-ly limited in its use, in connection with vending machines of the type whereby when a coin of a predetermined denomination or size is deposited therein the machine may be actuated through the instrum'entalites of the coin.

One of the particular objects of the invention is to provide coin controlled mechanism of this character which will be operated only with a predetermined plurality of coins, thereby necessitating the deposit of more than one coin into the machine before the mechanism will be rendered active.

A further object is to provide in a machine of this character improvedmeans for preventing the operation thereof by a plurality of coins, one of which is either in excess of the diameter of the proper coin, or is too large or too thin, or to soft with relation thereto.

To the attainment of these ends andthe accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists f in thefeatures of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown intheaccompanying drawings illustrating this invention and in which t Figure 1 is a rear elevation of coin controlled mechanism of this character constructed in accordance with jtheprincipl-es of" this invention, and showing the parts in their normal posltlon.

Figure 2 1s a view simllarto Figure l,

with partsfomitted and parts broken away,

tion as in Figure 1.

showing the mechanism in thesame posi- J Figure 3 is a view simil'ar to Figure Z,

with parts omitted'and parts broken away,

showing the position 'the parts will assume .when, the proper coins havefbeen inserted and the detector mechanism properly adjusted or moved thereby, so as to permit the ing the parts in a further advanced position. Figure Sis a detail top plan view ofthe detector mechanism. Y

. pose to be hereinafter set forth. :20 of the seat 17 as well as the bottom 21 of Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken I on line 66,' Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on line 77, Figure 8.

Figure 8 is a view of F igure'? taken from the right hand side thereof.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view with pending application, Serial No. 210,768,1and

only'such part of the mechanism with which this detector mechanism cooperates, will, be described. Suffice' itto say, that however, the mechanism herein'disclosed embodies a check carrier 15 which is mounted upon a shaft 16 for rotation therewith, and the cheek carrier is providedwith a plurality of check seats 1718, the seat 17 being adapted to receive a coin or check of a larger size or diameter than the coin or check adapted to be received in the seat 18. V

There is preferably provided a partition 19' between the two seats and this partition;

is preferably tapered as shown, for a pur- The bottom the seat 18, are inclined towards the adj acent wall of the partition so as to insure the" proper positioning of the coins orfchecks 22-23 respectivelytherein and'so as to also cause the coins tobe inclined towards each other at their outermost points, as shown more clearly in Figure 9, for a purpose tobe set forth. y

The partition 19 serves the purpose of astwo members 25%26,both mounted upon the same pivot 24,and having their adjacent side faces-contacting; Thefmember 26 is prog in directing and positioningthe' coins V in the respective seats. r

"Pivotally mounted, adjacent the path of V movement of the coins in their seats'and prefvided with a laterally projecting flange 27 and the member'25 is provided with a similar flange 28, the flanges being disposed one adja- -cent the 'otherfor the reception of'afastenmember will be moved as P erly and the opening 41 will not beproperly ing device 29 preferably in the form of aor coin carrier 15 for rotation therewith in screw by means of'which the two members 25-26 may be relatively adjusted one with relation to the other. A lock nut 30 may be provided on the screw 29.

One of the members, preferably the member 26 is provided with a slot 31 and a screw 32 passes through the slot and has threaded engagement with the member 25 so that by loosening the screw 32 and adjusting the screw 29 the members 25-26 may be adjusted with respect to each other, and when adjusted the screw 32 may be tightened to assist in holding the members in their adjusted position. I

Carried by the member 25 is a roller 33 which projects laterally therefrom and the roller is provided with a recessed portion 34 in its periphery, the walls 35 of the recessed portion being inclined or beveled, for a purpose to be set forth. This roller 33 is mounted to rotate freely upon a trunnion 36 carried by the member 25. j

. A spring 37 is connected by one end as at 38 to the detector member and is anchored by its other end as at 39 to a fixed support, and the spring tends normally to move the detector member in a direction about its pivot 24 so that when the coins in the seats 22 and 23 of the check or coin carrier 15 are advanced, the peripheral edges of the coins will engage the roller 33 and. if the coins are of proper size and denominations, the detector about its pivot 24 to crmit the check carrier'15 and the coins carried thereby to be advanced. The detector member is provided with a flange 40 having an opening 41 therein and which opening, when the detector member is properly posi tioned willbe in a position to permit a laterally projecting flange 42 on a member 43 that the check carrier 15 with the coins therein may be moved from the position shown in Figure 2, to the positions shown in Figures 3 and 4. 7 When, however, coins of improper size are seated in the check seats in the check carrier, the detector member will not be shifted propto pass through the opening, so

located to receive the flange 42 of the member 43. V i g If a check or coin of a smaller diameter than the proper coin is placed in the seat, the edge of the flange 42 will engage the flange 40 on onelside of the-opening 41. If however, a coin or check of a larger diameter than the proper coin is insert-ed in the check seat then the detector member will be posit-ioned'so that a portion of the flange 40 on the other" side of the opening 41 will bein' check or coin carrier will be locked against advancing movement. a The member 43 is connected with the check cation herein referred to,

. member 43 in the direction indicated by the detector.

46 with the member 43 and is anchored by its other end as at 47 and tends normally to move the member 43vwith the flange 42 to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. When, however, the member 43 is'moved to the position shown in Figures 2 and 4, under the conditions heretofore set forth, the spring will be placed under tension so as to return the parts to their normal position.

The coins will be advanced from the position shown in Figures 3 that the coin seats will be inverted to allow the coins to drop therefrom, after which and upon return movement of the coin carrier 15 the coins will be discharged into the machine by the engagement of a shoulder 48 coin carrier with the edge of the coin to force the coin against a pivotally mounted member 49 that carries a retaining pawl 50, in a manner to actuate the pawl 50 to release a disc 51 which is connected with the parts of the mechanism that are to be set into motion, the disc 51 being moved in an advancing direction by means of a pawl 52 pivotally mounted as at 53 and connected 3 with the member 43 for movement therewith, in a manner similar to that set forth in the applibut which tripping mechanism and the means forrotating the disc 51 constitutes no part of the present invention. Suflice it to say that thepawl 50 is controlled by a spring 54 which tends normally to move it in a direction to co-operate with teeth 55 on the disc 51.

It is thought that the operation of this device. will be clearly understood from the foregoing, but briefly stated it is as follows.

The normal position of theparts are as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and when the two coins of a proper size and denomination are placed respectively in the seats 22 ant 23 of the coin carrier 15,.the shaft 16 is rotated by means of a suitable handle (not shown but well known in this art) so as to move the the arrow in Figure 2.

By the time the end of the flange 42 assumes a position in close proximity to the flange 40 on the'detector, the coins in the coin seats will. have shifted the detector member to a position so that through the opening 41 the flange 40 of The edges of the coins will then pass into a position to engage the roller 33 on the detector as shown in Figures 3 and 9. If two coins of the proper size their combined width will be sufficient to cause the outer peripheral edges of the two coms to engage the respective inclined walls 35 of the recess 34 in the roller 33, with and 4 to a position a on the theflang e 42 can pass the result that the coins being. forced against this roller will cause the detector to be shifted to properly position the member 43.

If one of the coins is of an-improper diameter or thickness, the peripheral edge of only one of the coins will engage the respective inclined wall of the recess 34 and owing to the fact that the engagement of a singl coin with the roller 33 will not be sufiicient to shift the detector member against the stress of the spring 37, the mechanism will not be unlocked and the detector will not be shifted to a position so that the flange 42 on the member 43 can pass through the opening 41. i p e The edge of the flange 42 will engage the flange 40 in either one or the other sides of the opening 41 according to the nature of the spurious coin placed in the coin seat. That is, if'it is of a greater diameter than the detector will" be shifted a greater distance than if the spurious coin is of a smaller diameter than the proper coin.

If the spurious coin or token whichis inserted in one or bothof the check seats is of softer material than that from which the proper coins are formed, then the stress of the spring 37 will'cause theroller 33 to crush the improper coin and the mechanism will not be unlocked.

Likewise when a single coininstead of two coins, is placed Within one or the other of the coin seats of the coin carrier 15, the mechanism cannot be operated and the detector member cannot be shifted, for the reason that if only one coin is present, and even though of the-proper size and thickness, the peripheral edge thereof will engage one of the inclined walls of the roller 33 and the coin will be shifted in its seat laterally and the edge of the coin will not'be in a proper position to shift the detector member 43.

If, however, and asbefore set forth, the proper coins 22 and 23 are inserted in the coin seat,-the detector member will be shifted to a proper position to permit the flange 42 to pass through the opening 41. 1

The adjusting means between, the two members constituting the detector is pro- .vided so as to compensate any inaccuracles in manufacture, and also to provide a means whereby the mechanism may beproperly ad'- justed to be operated by a predetermined plurality oflcoins... V

'While the preferred'fo'rm of the invention has been herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood thatvarious changes may be made in the details of construction and'in the "combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the cla ms, WlllllOllt That is claimedas new is 1. Coins-controlled mechanism embodying a coin carrier having an opening for receivingfand simultaneously holding a plurality departing from thespirit of this-invention.

of coins face to face, locking means con.-,

trolled by the combined action of said coins for controlling the actuation'of said carrier, and a roller operatively connected with said locking means and adapted'to be engaged by the peripheral edges of said coins and shifted thereby to render the locking means inactive to permit actuation of the coin carrier.

2. Coin controlled mechanism embodying a coin carrier having an opening for receiving and simultaneously holding a plurality of coins face to face, locking means controlled by the combined action of said coins for controlling the actuation of said carrier, and a roller operatively connected with said locking means and adapted to be engaged-by the peripheral edge of said coins to be shifted thereby to render the locking means inactive, said roller having a portion reduced in diameter into which the edge of a coin will enter to prevent rendering the locking means inactive when an insuflicient number of coins is deposited in the said opening in the coin carrier. I y g 3. Coin controlled mechanism embodying a coin carrier having an opening for receivmg and simultaneously holding a plurality of coins face to face, locking means controlled by the combined action of said coins for controlling the actuation of said carrier, and a roller operatively connected with said locking means and adapted to'be engaged b I the peripheral edge of said coins to be shifted thereby to render the locking means inactive, said roller having a portion reduced in diameter into which the edge of a coin will enter to prevent rendering the locking means lnactivewhen, one or more improper coins is or arefdeposited in said opening in the coin carrier.

4. Coin controlled mechanism embodying acoin carrier adapted to receiveand advance a predetermined plurality ofcoins into an operative position, a detector member, said member controlling, the operation ofsaid carrier, rand-means operatively connected with said detector member and adapted to be engaged bythe peripheral edges of all'of said coins and being shiftable, only by the com binedaction of. all of said coins to render the coin carrier active to advance the coins further through the mechanism.

a coin carrier adapted to receive and advance a predetermined plurality of coins into an operativejposltlon, a detector memberpsaid member controlling the operation of said carrier, and means operatively connected with said detector member and adapted to be engaged by the; peripheral edges oflall of. said coins and being shiftable' only by the combined action of all of said coins to render the v coin carrier active to advance the coins fur: ther through. the mechan1sm,the said means being also operatlve to cause the action of an insufiicient number of coins in the coin carrier to be ineffective thereupon as regards the shifting thereof. 7

6. Coin controlled mechanism embodying atcoin carrier adapted to receive and advanc a predetermined plurality of coins into an operative position, a detector member, said member controlling the operation of said carrier, and means operatively connected with said detector member and adapted to be engaged by the peripheral edges of all of said coins and being shiftable only by the combined action of all oi said coins to render the coincarrier active to advance the coins turther through the mechanism, the said means being also operative to cause the action of an insuflicient number of coins in the coin carrier to be ineli'ective as regards the shifting thereof, by dislocating the coin with respect to its seat in the coin carrier.

7. Coin controlled mechanism embodying a coin carrier having an opening for receiving and advancing a coin, a shiftable controlling member forming with the wall 01 said opening a space through which the coin is adapted to be passed by the carrier, the peripheral edge of the coin engaging and shifting said member as it passes theflatter, and means whereby said member willshitl a predetermined improper coin with respect to said carrier to prevent operation of said member by such improper coin in the said openin v 8. Coin controlled mechanism embodying acoin carrier having an opening for receiving and advancing a coin, a shiftablo locking member co-operating with the wall of said.

opening to form a space between which the coin is adapted to be passed by the carrier, a portion of said member being arranged in the path of movement of the peripheral edge of the coin to be engaged and shifted thereby, the said member having a shape to provide an enlargement of a portion of said space, and

means for causing the edge or an improper coin to enter the said enlarged portion of the space'to'prevent operation of the said locking member by such improper coin.

9. Coin controlled mechanism embodying a coin carrier having an opening for receiving a predetermined plurality of coins, and a shiftable locking member co-operating with the "wallof said opening to forms space between which the coins are adapted to be passed by the carrier, a portion of said memher being positioned to be engagedby the peripheral edges ofthe coins and operable the combined thickness of the'co-ins on the carrier, the said portion of said member having a shape to provide an enlargement of a portion of said'space and into which enlargement the coins will enter to prevent operationof the said locking member either by the presence of aninsufiicient number of coins on the carrier, or by a plurahty v0t coins of improper denomination and size on the carmen 10. Coin controlled mechanism embodying a coin carrier having an opening for receiving a predetermined'plurality of coins,ashiftable locking member co-operating with the wall of said opening to form a space between which the coins are adapted to be passed by the carrier, a portion of said member being positioned to be engaged by the peripheral edges of the coins and operable by the combined thickness of the coins on the carrier, the said portion of said member having a shape to provide an enlargement of a portion of said space, and means for forcing the coins to project into such enlargement to prevent the operation of the said locking member either by the presence of an insutficient number of coins on the carrier, or by a plurality of coins either or both of which on the carrier is of an improper size or denomination.

11. Coin controlled mechanism embodying a coin carrier having an opening for receiving a predetermined plurality of coins,

a shiftable control member operable by the combined thickness of the coins on the carrier, a roller carried by saidmember, said roller co-operating with the wall of said opening to form a space through which the coins are adapted to be passed by said carrier, a portion of the roller being reduced in diameter to form a space into which the coins will enter to prevent shifting of said control member either by the presence of an insufficient number of coins on the carrier, or by a plurality of coins on the carrier of improper size or denomination, and means for forcing such coins into the space formed by such reduced portion of the roller.

12. Coin controlled mechanism embodying a coin carrier having an opening for re ceiving a predetermined plurality of coins,

a shiftable control member operable by the combined thickness of the coins on the car rier, aroller carried by said member, said roller co-operating with the wall of said opening to form a space through which the coins are adapted to be passed by said carrier, a portion of the roller being reduced in diameter to form a space into which the coins will enter to prevent shifting of said vcontrol member either by the presence of an insuflicient number of coins on the car rier, or by a plurality of coins on the carrier of improper size or denomination, the Wall of the space formed by such reduced port1on of the roller being inclined and operating to force such coins into the space formed by such reduced portion of the roller.

13. Coin controlled mechanism embodying a coin carrier having openings toreceive a predetermined plurality of coins face to face, a partition between such openings, the

bottom of said openings inclining towards the partition to cause the outer edges of the coins to stand in close proximity to each other, a shiftable controlling member, a roller carried by said member and co-operating with the bottom of said openings to form a space through which the coins are adapted to be passed by the carrier, the peripheral edges of the coins engaging the roller, said roller and member being shiftable only by the combined thickness of the coins on the carrier, and means for causing said member and co-operating with the bottoms of said openings to form a space through which the coins are adapted to be passed by the carrier, the peripheral edges of the coins engaging the roller, said roller and member being shiftable only by the combined thickness of the coins on the carrier, and means for causing saidmember and roller to be inoperable by the presence of an insuficient number of coins on the carrier, or by a plurality of coins of improper size, denomination and characteristic on the carrier.

15. Coin controlled mechanism embodying a coin carrier, a shiftable controlling member, a detector member connected therewith for adjustment one with relation to the other, means for securing said members in their adjusted positions, a roller mounted upon one of the said members, said roller co-operating with the wall of said openings to form a space between which the coins are adapted to be passed by said carrier, said roller and said members being shiftable by the combined width of the coins on the carrier, and means whereby the said roller and members will be maintained against being shifted by the presence of an insufficient number of coins on the carrier, or by a P111- causing the said member to crush or mutilate either one or both of said tokens, if one or both of the tokens is or are not of a proper or predetermined degree'of hardness.

In testimony whereof I have signed in name to this specification, on this 24th day of October, A. D. 1929.

ALFRED D. ANTOINE.

rali-ty of coins of improper size, denomination and characteristic on the carrier.

16. c Coin controlled mechanism embodying a COlIl carrier adapted to carry a predetermined plurality of tokens into an operative position, a shiftable controlling member forming with a portion of the carrier a space through which the tokens are adapted to be passed by the carrier, the peripheral edge of the tokens engaging and shifting said member as they pass the latter, said member being shiftably only by the combined width of said tokens, and means for 

